Pope widens punishment for child abuse

POPE Francis has
bolstered criminal legislation against child abuse in the Vatican and increased
criminal liability for employees of the tiny city state in a legislative
overhaul.

The Vatican said in a statement the Pope's decree included "a
broader definition of the category of crimes against minors" including
child prostitution, sexual acts with children and child pornography.

The new laws are part of an introduction of forms of crime
indicated in international conventions that the Vatican has already ratified
including against racism and war crimes and on children's rights.

"While many of the specific criminal offences included in
these laws are undeniably new, it would however be incorrect to assume that the
forms of conduct thereby sanctioned were previously licit," said Monsignor
Dominique Mamberti, who is in charge of relations between the Holy See and
other states.

"These were indeed punished, but as broader, more generic
forms of criminal activity."

Francis also increased co-operation with other states against
money laundering and terrorism in a continuation of reforms begun by his
predecessor, Benedict XVI, to get the Vatican in line with international
legislation.

The new norms also introduce the administrative responsibility of
Vatican departments - a potentially radical change that would complement his
plans to root out corruption from the scandal-ridden Vatican bureaucracy.

The Pope's reform "extends the reach of the legislation
contained in these criminal laws to the members, officials and employees of the
various bodies of the Roman Curia," the central body of the Catholic
Church, Mamberti said.

"This extension has the aim of making the crimes included in
these laws indictable by the judicial organs of Vatican City State even when
committed outside the borders of the state," he said.